Prior to embarking on new construction, teams must determine the right building material for the job. This decision should be founded in the best-case budget, logistics, and timeline for each project. Architects and designers first determine the building’s function and use and then cultivate attainable aesthetic and structural goals revolving around its purpose. To decide if precast concrete is ideal for your office building, you must consider three main objectives: aesthetic versatility, project location, and resilience.
We’ll explore how precast concrete benefits office construction, so you can determine if it’s right for your next project. Below are three considerations for determining if precast concrete is ideal for your building.
1. What Statement Do You Want to Make?
When it comes to looks, many companies want an office building that makes a statement. Unique designs boost company reputations and attract more talent, which can be critical to recruitment strategies. Precast concrete structures offer the aesthetic versatility needed to create buildings that stand out from skylines let alone to job seekers. From brick to textured formliner, concrete stains, and color treatments, precast promotes aesthetic differentiation and opportunity.
In addition to appearance, companies want to flaunt the comfort they provide employees. Precast construction allows for large window openings that do not sacrifice other high-performance objectives, and a study revealed that employees who sit within ten feet of a window reported an eighty-four-percent decrease in eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision symptoms. Precast concrete advantages also include more workable space with less obstructions for open offices, efficient thermal performance that responds well to temperature fluctuations, good acoustics, and better connection to internet networks.
2. Where Is the Job Site Located?
Where your job site is positioned on the grid is key to determining building material. For example, projects in congested urban locations or residential areas require quick construction and minimal disturbance to the surrounding area. Precast concrete is constructed offsite in a quality-controlled factory and delivered to the job site just in time, minimizing the amount of on-site labor and time needed to erect buildings. Accelerated project timelines enable building owners to occupy spaces faster without tacking onto financial charges.
Depending on where you build—near a highway, on busy roads, or in the city—there may be a great deal of noise. In order to reduce noise carry-over and block out distractions from the surrounding environment, office buildings require a material like precast concrete, which has the density needed for quality acoustics.
3. What Level of Resilience Do You Hope to Achieve?
Precast is a robust building material that can persevere storms, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and blasts. It is noncombustible and upholds passive fire protection, keeping occupants and employees safe from external hazards. Not only can companies offer protection to employees but they can also guarantee no negative environmental impacts when building with precast since it is waste-free and made up entirely of natural components.
People often look at operational savings and consider service life when locating the perfect office building for their company. Precast concrete walls are pest-deterrent, mold and moisture resistant, thermally efficient, and durable. This helps to reduce large energy, mechanical equipment, and maintenance costs over time and withstand years of use.
Precast Concrete in PCI-MA Office Building Projects
One Willoughby Square is a thirty-four-story tower that used precast concrete to promote social and natural connectivity in a column-free, exposed structure that allows for wide-open work environments without obstruction. In order to stand out from the Brooklyn skyline, designers chose a unique cobalt blue brick façade for the office building. With precast concrete, builders supported the architect’s design goals, maintained an accelerated timeline, and mitigated high expenses.
Winning the 2019 All-Precast Concrete Solution Design Award, the Nassau County Police 8th Precinct met budget and durability goals while creating a cohesive architectural message. The off-site fabrication of concrete accelerated the project timeline, minimized job site disruption, and avoided critical weather delays. The all-precast-concrete design is strong and durable, while visually conveying a sense of permanence and security to the public.
More About Precast, Prestressed Concrete
Interested in learning more about precast and how the precasters of the PCI Mid-Atlantic Chapter support office building construction? Explore the PCI Mid-Atlantic Solutions Center for helpful resources and get in touch with PCI-MA for precast information, higher education partnerships, and more.
